March 6, 2016
Morning Service

Luke 20:1-47

Luke 20:1-8 Now it happened on one of those days, as He taught the people in the temple and preached the gospel, that the chief priests and the scribes, together with the elders, confronted Him (2) and spoke to Him, saying, “Tell us, by what authority are You doing these things? Or who is he who gave You this authority?” (3) But He answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one thing, and answer Me: (4) The baptism of John—was it from heaven or from men?” (5) And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ (6) But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us, for they are persuaded that John was a prophet.” (7) So they answered that they did not know where it was from. 8 And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.” 

Seems odd that these leaders didn’t dispute the fact that Jesus had authority but only ask where he got this authority. Driven by jealousy and fear of losing power and control of the people these leaders were seeking to trip Jesus up and get an answer they could use against him. But Jesus seeing what they were up to didn’t answer as expected but turned the tables and asks them a question. Jesus asks these men who were the leaders of the Jewish religion at the time a question they should easily know the answer to. His question made them squirm and after reasoning realized they were backed into a corner. They were in a quandary: answer from heaven and they will be faced with explaining why they didn’t believe him, answer from men and the people who believed John a prophet would stone them. Seeing their plan was foiled they took the easy way out and said they didn’t know. They had to have known that God who gave John authority also had given Jesus his authority. But they were blinded by their own stubbornness and greed. Every Israelite after reaching the age of 20 was obligated to pay a tribute of an exact Hebrew half shekel. No foreign money with a foreign image was acceptable and these money changers were getting rich by tacking on a charge for these exchanges. There was no defense for these pilgrims, they were obligated to do it by law and the priestly authority took a large percentage of the exchange. Festivals brought thousands of pilgrims to the city and Passover was an even larger windfall. Previously in Luke chapter 19:45 Jesus threw out those money changers and overturned their tables. If you want to make an enemy of the upper echelon just get between them and their pocketbook.   

(9)Then He began to tell the people this parable: “A certain man planted a vineyard, leased it to vinedressers, and went into a far country for a long time. (10) Now at vintage-time he sent a servant to the vinedressers, that they might give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the vinedressers beat him and sent him away empty-handed. (11) Again he sent another servant; and they beat him also, treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed. (12) And again he sent a third; and they wounded him also and cast him out. 13 “Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son. Probably they will respect him when they see him.’ (14) But when the vinedressers saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.’ (15) So they cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do to them? (16) He will come and destroy those vinedressers and give the vineyard to others.” And when they heard it they said, “Certainly not!” (17) Then He looked at them and said, “What then is this that is written: ‘The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone’? (18) Whoever falls on that stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.” (19) And the chief priests and the scribes that very hour sought to lay hands on Him, but they feared the people for they knew He had spoken this parable against them.

This story is a warning to the religious leaders that they are in disobedience of God. Matthew and Mark go on to say that many servants were sent, some they stoned and some were killed. The farmer decided that if he sent his beloved son that the renters would stand up and take notice that and respect the son. But alas once again greed wins out and they kill the son in hopes of taking his inheritance and then the vineyard would be theirs. The obvious answer to what would become of those evil renters would be the farmer would come and destroy them and rent the vineyard to others. Isaiah 5:1-7 tells of God’s Disappointing Vineyard. In short God takes a fruitful hill, clears it and plants a vineyard but what it produces are are wild grapes. So He takes away its hedge and it is burned, trampled, laid waste and no rain falls on it. Vs. 7 says the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel. Being an old testament scripture the religious leaders surely knew who the parable was referring to. And the scripture about the cornerstone is from Psalms 118:22 so they were getting the hint for sure. But as much as his words infuriated them they feared the reprisal of the people.

(20) So they watched Him, and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, that they might seize on His words, in order to deliver Him to the power and the authority of the governor. (21) Then they asked Him, saying, “Teacher, we know that You say and teach rightly, and You do not show personal favoritism, but teach the way of God in truth: (22) Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” (23) But He perceived their craftiness, and said to them, “Why do you test Me? (24) Show Me a denarius. Whose image and inscription does it have?” They answered and said, “Caesar’s.” (25) And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” (26) But they could not catch Him in His words in the presence of the people. And they marveled at His answer and kept silent.

The Jewish leaders were looking for a way to turn the people against Jesus or to possibly trick him into offending the Romans. Even though the Jews considered the Romans enemies they were under Roman rule and they had to pay taxes to them which they hated doing. Spies were sent to once again attempt to trip Jesus up. They call him “Teacher” which is normally a title of honor and respect but in this case it was hypocrisy. They lay it on thick by saying he teaches rightly and doesn’t show favoritism. It is all hypocrisy because they do not follow his teachings nor do they mean the things they are saying. With their smooth talk they ask him if it is lawful for them to pay taxes to Caesar. But once again Jesus sees through their trickery and even asks them “Why do you test Me?” You would think this would be enough to prompt them to tuck their tails and run but their desire to bring ruin to Jesus gives them boldness. Jesus asks for a denarius which is a small silver Roman coin. After asking them whose image and inscription is on the coin the leaders answer Caesar’s. And Jesus instructs them that yes they need to pay the government the taxes due them as well as to pay tithes and things due to God. Now this isn’t the only time we are told something similar in the Bible…

Romans 13:1-7 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. (2) Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. (3) For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. (4) For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. (5) Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. (6) For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. (7) Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.

The leaders didn’t like what they heard just as we many times do not like what we hear. But nonetheless we are encouraged to be subject to the governing authorities because they are appointed by God. So rather than complain, criticize, bad mouth and whatever is our first thought to do we should pray for them, not against them…for them. There are many groups and I think our Amish brethren are among some that don’t like paying taxes due to their beliefs. But from what I can see Jesus makes it pretty clear that we are to pay our taxes. The only time we are justified in not doing something is when it would place us is in direct disobedience to God’s word. Once again Jesus’ wise answer turned them away no doubt shaking their heads in dismay.

(27) There came to him some Sadducees, those who deny that there is a resurrection, (28) and they asked him a question, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies, having a wife but no children, the man must take the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. (29) Now there were seven brothers. The first took a wife, and died without children. (30) And the second 31 and the third took her, and likewise all seven left no children and died. (32) Afterward the woman also died. (33) In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had her as wife.” (34) And Jesus said to them, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage, (35) but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage, (36) for they cannot die anymore, because they are equal to angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. (37) But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in the passage about the bush, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. (38) Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for all live to him.” (39) Then some of the scribes answered, “Teacher, you have spoken well.” (40) For they no longer dared to ask him any question.

One thing that has always stuck with me was what Bro. Greg Matthews said was a way to remember the difference between Sadducees and Pharisees …The Sadducees did not believe in a resurrection so they are “Sad You See”. The Pharisees did so they are “Fair I See”. If resurrection and afterlife are simply myths then what would be the point in serving a god of any kind? It is our hope to be resurrected and live forevermore with him. Well once more they approach him to try and trip him up and this time some of the Sadducees ask whose wife a woman would be that had been married seven times. An ancient custom was if a married man died without children (heirs) then his brother was to marry her and the first born would essentially be the child of the brother that died. In so doing there would be someone for his inheritance to go to. So ironic that three of the four stories we spoke on were actually things the religious leaders did not believe in but yet they pretended to in order to trick Jesus. Power and greed blind people and cause them to do things that defy reason sometimes and these are prime examples. Jesus basically tells them that heaven isn’t going to be the same as we understand life on earth to be. I don’t think it’s possible for us to comprehend just what all heaven will entail. We can fantasize, imagine, dream, guess or whatever you want to call it but in reality it’s beyond our comprehension. All we know for sure is there will be no more death. In this life we begin to die at birth. Whether we live 20 years, 50 years or 100 this life will end in death for us. But in the life to follow, the one in which we will be resurrected to there will be no death. Some of the scribes told Jesus that he answered well. There were conflicts among the leaders and they did not all go along with the beliefs of the Sadducees yet they were unified in their quest to bring Jesus down. But after being outsmarted they no longer dared to ask him anymore questions.

(41) And He said to them, “How can they say that the Christ is the Son of David? (42) Now David himself said in the Book of Psalms: ‘The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, (43) Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.”’  (44) Therefore David calls Him ‘Lord’; how is He then his Son?” (45) Then, in the hearing of all the people, He said to His disciples, (46) “Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, (47) who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.”

Just as David was a great warrior and commander and just as he defeated Israel’s enemies the Israelites expected the Christ to defeat the Romans and free them. The belief then was that an ancestor was greater than his descendant. So since David preceded Jesus they therefore placed David above Jesus thus vs. 44. If David calls Him Lord then how can David be greater? And finally Jesus rebukes the religious leaders within earshot of the people.

Our Prayer: Lord help us to always be mindful and respectful of the authorities over us.